IU fans boo Tom Crean's sub strategy

BLOOMINGTON Tom Crean responded Monday to the apparent booing of Indiana fans a day earlier during IU's upset of Michigan.

Fans appeared to boo Crean's substitution patterns in the first half of Sunday's win. In a four-plus-minute span midway through the first half, Michigan compiled a 6-0 run with one IU starter, Stanford Robinson, on the floor.

A member of the audience at Crean's show took a microphone to tell IU's coach that he was "embarrassed" that fans would boo any Hoosier. Crean thanked the man before responding.

"I learned a long time ago, if you coach long enough, you're gonna see a little bit of everything," he said.

Crean said his lineup at that moment was meant to rest some of Indiana's starters.

"The bottom line is, we have to rest players," he said. "I don't have any concern on that. … We've got to continue to build depth, and the only way you build depth is to get guys to be consistent."

When Michigan moved its run to 6-0 on a Zak Irvinnlayup, Crean called timeout. He subbed out four players – Austin Etherington, Jonny Marlin, Jeff Howard and Robinson – and Indiana finished the half on a 15-9 run.

+ Minnesota coach Richard Pitino told reporters on Monday's Big Ten coaches' teleconference that he doesn't believe guard Andre Hollins will be back from injury for this week's trip to Purdue. There's no word yet on whether Hollins, who averages 15.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game, can return for Indiana's trip to Minneapolis on Saturday.

"We anticipate him not playing, because he hasn't practiced," Pitino said, when asked whether Hollins would play versus Purdue.

+ Crean confirmed on his radio show that he and his staff are still actively recruiting players in the 2014 class. IU has space for all three of its currently-signed 2014 recruits, because of the departure of Luke Fischer.

Freshman forward Noah Vonleh is considered a likely lottery pick if he chooses to enter this summer's NBA Draft. In a recent story about Vonleh in The Star, several people close to him said the seven-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week has not given serious thought to his professional future.

+ Indiana has adjusted its style, Crean said Monday, as the Hoosiers have become more comfortable playing more patiently on offense.

IU spoke in the preseason and throughout the non-conference schedule about wanting to play up tempo. But recently, the Hoosiers have become more deliberate, an approach that worked against Illinois and Michigan, when the Hoosiers scored 56 and 63 points, respectively.

Crean passed credit on to his assistant coaches for their roles in preparing Indiana for Sunday's win over Michigan, both offensively and defensively.

"Guys just have to learn that every game is different. Every team has a different way to win," Crean said. "When we've gotten in trouble offensively is when we've gotten away from what makes us win."